Moving the Resident from a Bed to a Stretcher or Gurney

Written by Hollie Finders, RN
Hollie Finders is a registered nurse with years of experience working in the health care field. She has degrees in both biochemistry and nursing. After working with patients of all ages, Hollie now specializes in pediatric intensive care nursing. Hollie’s LinkedIn

Procedure

Equipment needed: 2-3 coworkers, bath blanket, stretcher or gurney

Perform hand hygiene.
Explain the procedure to the patient and ask for his or her assistance in following directions.
Lock the bed wheels and raise the bed to a comfortable working height.
Lower the head of the bed until flat. Lower the side rail on the working side.
Cover the patient with a bath blanket and remove the patient’s top sheets.
Loosen the bottom sheet from underneath the patient. Roll the bottom sheet towards the patient.
Align the stretcher next to the patient’s bed. Ensure the side rails are down, the wheels are locked, and that the height of the stretcher matches that of the bed.
Have a coworker or two lower the side rail on the other side of the bed, loosen the bottom sheet, and roll it towards the patient.
Instruct the patient to cross his or her arms across the chest. Ensure the patient is ready for the transfer and inform the patient when it will happen.
With a coworker joining you on your side, reach over the stretcher and grab the roll of sheets. Have the coworkers on the other side of the bed grab the roll of sheets on their side.
On the count of three, have everyone gently lift and slide the patient onto the stretcher. Use proper body mechanics to avoid injury.
Raise the side rails on the stretcher.
Unlock the stretcher’s wheels and transport the patient to the desired destination with the assistance of another coworker. Do not leave the patient alone in the stretcher.

Important Information

Moving a patient from a bed to a stretcher can pose huge safety risks to both the patient and to the health care workers completing the transfer. Always use the appropriate amount of people to complete a transfer, which may vary according to the patient’s weight and/or the facility’s policy. In some cases, a mechanical lift may be needed [1]. Before moving the patient, always ensure that the transfer can occur in one fluid motion. For instance, make certain that there is enough slack on a patient’s oxygen tubing or IV lines to avoid injuring the patient or damaging the equipment.

References

Guidelines for Nursing Homes

More Resources

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For patients with dentures, care of the dentures is just as important as brushing natural teeth. Good denture hygiene and fit helps prevent oral irritation and infection.

Partial Bed Bath

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Offering the Bedpan

When a resident is bed-bound, they must use a bedpan to urinate and defecate. This can be embarrassing for the resident, so it should be done with sensitivity to the resident’s privacy and dignity. There are two types of bedpans. A regular bedpan is the deeper and more rounded of the two. A fracture pan has a relatively flat upper end with a trough at the lower end. Fracture pans are used for residents who have difficulty, or restrictions against, moving their hips and/or backs.

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A tympanic membrane thermometer uses an infrared sensor to measure the temperature of the tympanic membrane (ear drum). This type of thermometer is considered an accurate and reliable predictor of a patient’s core temperature because the tympanic membrane’s blood supply is sourced from the carotid artery, which is the same artery that carries blood to the hypothalamus in the brain.

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Measuring the Radial Pulse

The radial artery, located in the wrist, is easy to feel and an efficient location to measure heart rate. Changes to the rhythm or strength of the radial pulse can indicate heart disease, damage to the arm, or body fluid status. It is important to remember to check the radial pulse on both sides as differences between left and right can indicate injury or disease processes.